Dale Farm is on a journey to net zero, as the dairy cooperative commits to work with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) on deliverable, evidence-based pathways to drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

Within this framework Dale Farm is required to set environmental targets in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Targets set by Dale Farm to date include reducing the carbon footprint of its milk production by 30% by 2030 and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions from factories by at least 50% by 2028.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling organisations to set science-based emissions reduction targets. The SBTi is a partnership between Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The targets form a key pillar of Dale Farm’s ‘Future Strong’ sustainability programme – a framework for reducing emissions and improving efficiency both on farm and the factory floor. Future Strong launched in October 2023 with a detailed survey for Dale Farm farmer members, and an agreement from participants to carbon footprint their farms. To date, the cooperative has seen a 95% uptake from its supplier base for the initiative. A sustainability payment is now made to participating producers as part of their base milk price. The next step is to develop nutrient management plans for each farm, taking sustainability back to its grass roots with farmers supported by our FACTS (Fertiliser Advisers Certification & Training Scheme) trained employees throughout the process.

Nick Whelan, Group Chief Executive, Dale Farm said:

“Sustainability is at the heart of every decision we make as a farmer owned cooperative. Through our Future Strong programme, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint and improving our environmental sustainability, but ensuring our farmers have resilient, sustainable, and profitable farm businesses for generations to come.

“As a business we have rolled out many sustainability measures over the past number of years, including initiatives to drive efficiency and environmental footprint on farm, as well as lowering the carbon footprint of our factories, for example through our solar farm in Co. Tyrone powering our Dunmanbridge factory.

“I am delighted that we are now taking the further step of developing binding, science-based targets with the SBTi that will bring us further towards net zero, as we work to make our cooperative stronger, more efficient, and more sustainable in every sense of the word.”

L-R Dale Farm Group Chief Executive Nick Whelan; Coleraine Farmer Mark Patterson; Dale Farm Head of Farmer Services Neville Graham

L-R Dale Farm Group Chief Executive Nick Whelan; Coleraine Farmer Mark Patterson; Dale Farm Head of Farmer Services Neville Graham